From what I understand any IDE hard drive will work - just gotta make some tabs to fasten it into the drive bay. I'll send you a pic of mine if the page will let me post a pic. As for the software dvd's, find someone who's got the software and get them to burn a copy - cross your fingers the install finishes as the dvd drive becomes restricted by the software so that cd-r and dvd-r discs won't work. As for the official sony hard drive and vga cable, you're not gonna find them without buying used - sony doesn't even list part numbers for them.